Rock Climbing

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Abseiling off Table Mountain.

© Downhill Adventures

In Cape Town's Table Mountain South Africa boasts some of the oldest rocks on the planet, but this monolith represents only one of many mountain ranges found scattered across the country’s 9 provinces. And with mountains come the climbers, from all corners of the globe, ready to tackle the southernmost challenges of the African continent.

Mpumalanga province alone offers more than 500 climbing routes, courtesy of the magnificent Magaliesberg mountain range, Bronkhorstspruit and Waterval-Boven. Between the highveld savannah of the Witwatersrand and the African bushveld, the Magaliesberge are around 100 times older than Everest and attract climbers with some of the most picturesque cliffs and valleys in the country.

KwaZulu-Natal’s Howick Falls and Shongweni Nature Reserve are prime rock-climbing terrain just an hour’s drive from the coastal city of Durban (eThekwini). Then there’s the rural town of Harrismith, backed by climbing opportunities in Drakensberg range and Maluti mountains, where Swinburne and Mount Everest Park collectively offer 48 rock climbing sites.

With its numerous mountain ranges, the Western Cape’s Cedarberg, Du Toit's Kloof and Swartberg Pass offer prime territory. Montagu offers prime climb time with around 400 single-pitch and multi-pitch sport routes of differing range to be found on its quality rocky crags in a spot where it hardly ever rains.

Quality bouldering and sport climbing of all grades is available in the aptly named Rocklands region near Clanwilliam in the Cape. Sport routes are single pitch and require a bit of walking to access. The climbs are mostly in Cape Nature Conservation (CNC) land so you will require a day permit.

The remote nature of Eastern Cape climbing destinations add greatly to your sense of adventure. The most popular spots are to be found in the Hogsback or at the coast in Cape St Francis.

The Mountain Club of South Africa consists of 14 geographic sections. In the interests of security it is advisable to contact the section nearest to you to find out about climbing sites and potential dangers in the area if you intend setting out on your own.